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• Allegri unsure when Pogba will make latest return

  Massimiliano Allegri is unsure when Paul Pogba will return to action following his most recent injury setback.

  The France international has had a torrid time of things since returning to Juve from Manchester United last July, featuring for just 34 minutes across two substitute appearances.

  Pogba appeared to have put his injury issues behind him when playing in back-to-back games against Torino and Roma on February 28 and March 5, both times as a substitute.

  But he was dropped for Juve's next match, a Europa League tie with Freiburg, due to turning up late for a team meeting.

  The 29-year-old has not featured since, having sustained a fresh muscular problem while taking free-kicks in training.

  Providing an update on Pogba's fitness ahead of Juve's return to Serie A action against Hellas Verona on Saturday, Allegri appeared to once again rule out the midfielder.

  "At the moment, I don't know when he will be available again," Allegri said at Friday's pre-match press conference. "He's working, but at the moment it's difficult to say.

  "The adductor is fine, but we're waiting to see how his knee will react after taking part in training."

  Allegri's side were hit with a 15-point deduction in January, but they have won six of their past seven Serie A games to move back within seven points of the top four.

  Juve have five league games in April, as well as a meeting with Sporting CP in the Europa League quarter-finals and the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter.

  "Our aim is to win as many games as possible in order to have a wonderful May," Allegri said of his side's congested April programme. 

  "This is the schedule and we have to manage it the best way possible. We're heading towards a beautiful but tiring end to the season and must continue playing with enthusiasm."

• Newcastle United v Manchester United: Preview and prediciton

  Newcastle United are heading into a "massive month" as they bid for Champions League qualification, and their first task is EFL Cup final foes Manchester United.

  Newcastle's long wait for a major trophy goes on after they were beaten 2-0 by Man United at Wembley in February.

  This can still be a successful season for the Magpies, however, with a top-four finish within their hands. They could even leapfrog third-placed Man United with a win on Sunday.

  Eddie Howe's side will not be short of motivation for that match at St James' Park, although it is far from the last big game they have in April.

  There are another six fixtures to come before the end of the month, and Howe said: "It's a massive month. Whenever you have an intense period of games, you know those results are going to define what we do this season.

  "The last two results [wins against Wolves and Nottingham Forest] put us in a really strong position and also just lifted confidence levels and morale in the squad.

  "This is going to be a big week to come. It's Manchester United first, so we have to focus on that alone and learn our lessons from the cup final defeat."

  The EFL Cup clash came after Erik ten Hag had described Newcastle as "annoying" in reference to their gamesmanship.

  Although Howe suggested on Friday such claims had been "overblown", he confirmed Newcastle would be out to annoy their opponents.

  That is certainly what Ten Hag expects as he revisited the top before this encounter, saying: "We know they delay. It's something that the referee doesn't want.

  "Whey want to have tempo in the game, that is the aim of the Premier League, so they have to be consistent to let the game go."

  He added: "It's a team that is really hard to beat. We are looking forward to the challenge, and the evidence is we can beat them."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Newcastle United – Alexander Isak

  Isak returned injured the last time he went away on international duty in September, missing more than three months as a result. This time, the forward appears to be fit after featuring for Sweden and is coming into form, scoring six times in 10 league matches this season.

  Isak has three in his last two games, with Freddie Ljungberg and Zlatan Ibrahimovic the only Swedish players to have previously netted in three in a row in the competition.

  Manchester United – Marcus Rashford

  Rashford, unlike Isak, did not go away on international duty, complaining of a problem ahead of linking up with England. That appeared to frustrate Gareth Southgate, but it should have him fit for this game.

  It is a boost to United, with Rashford scoring more winning goals than any other player in the Premier League this season. His nine have only twice been topped by a United player in a single campaign – Cristiano Ronaldo (12 in 2007-08) and Wayne Rooney (10 in 2009-10).

  MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

  Newcastle are winless in six against Man United in the Premier League, but their past two meetings – the only two under Howe – have both ended in draws.

  It was goalless between the sides at Old Trafford. Although Newcastle have not kept clean sheets in consecutive games against Man United since May 1997, the visitors are without a goal in their past two league games.

  The Magpies are more than capable of frustrating their opponents if they have a result to protect, too, with their matches this season spanning the third-longest period of time on average at 98 minutes and 58 seconds but seeing a ball-in-play low of 51 minutes and 41 seconds.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Newcastle - 34.3 per cent

  Man United - 36.8 per cent

  Draw - 28.9 per cent

• Barry's move from Chelsea to Bayern faces delay due to potential Champions league tie

  Graham Potter confirmed that Chelsea and Bayern Munich are in talks over assistant coach Anthony Barry.

  However, a potential switch from London to Munich might well be delayed until a potential Champions League meeting between the sides.

  Thomas Tuchel, who was appointed as Bayern coach after the sacking of Julian Nagelsmann last week, worked with Barry during his time at Chelsea and is keen to get the 36-year-old on his staff.

  Barry is away from the Chelsea training ground while negotiations take place but Potter hinted that any agreement may be delayed until after a potential semi-final Champions League clash.

  "Obviously that delay is something I'm pretty sure is in the conversation for obvious reasons," Potter said at a press conference on Friday.

  "I have spoken to Anthony, he's someone I respect a lot and he's given everything for Chelsea. I understand that people have aspirations and it's about respecting that.

  "He's away from us for the moment. It's between the clubs, it's not something I get involved in.

  "I have huge respect for what he's done, here. He's a fantastic coach and a fantastic person."

  Chelsea face reigning champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, as they did last year, but could be tasked with a semi-final face-off with former boss Tuchel if Bayern beat Manchester City.

  Speaking to reporters in Germany on Friday, Tuchel was positive about the move for Barry.

  "It's a matter between the clubs. It's still my absolute wish for him to come. The clubs have to reach an agreement. But I'm optimistic," he said.